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Crèches ‘meant to be havens for children’

‘Last year, we successfully passed a motion in the ANC-led metro compelling the Department of Health and Social Development to undertake this crucial audit.’

February 5, 2018

Mosa Leago November who died at his day care centre.

The Democratic Alliance in Ekurhuleni has strongly condemned the death of a six-month-old toddler at a crèche in Tembisa.

DA member for health and social services oversight in Ekurhuleni, Clr Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, said crèches are supposed to be a safe haven for our young, where they are nurtured and cared for.

“It is for this reason that we have been urging the City of Ekurhuleni to implement a comprehensive audit of all crèches within the metro, which will provide details on which crèches are unregistered within Ekurhuleni,” said Rasilingwane.

Rasilingwane said with little or no controls or standards for unregistered crèches, there is the potential for negligence and malpractice which can leave children vulnerable to abuse. Greater scrutiny over crèches is therefore essential to ensure that children are safe from harm.

“These toddlers and children are our future and deserve proper nurturing,” he said.

She said they will not sit idle while the most vulnerable are at risk due to unlicensed crèches which do not operate legally and fail to safeguard their children.

“The metro must take action against these unlicensed crèches for the sake of our children and our country’s future.”

Rasilingwane said the DA has visited the family of baby Leago to offer its condolences and support.

“We will also be holding the metro to account to ensure that this audit is conducted and implemented with urgency, and call for an investigation into the crèche and the conduct of the staff. This after a child was badly burnt at another crèche in Ekurhuleni late last year,” added Rasilingwane.

“We will be assisting the family moving forward to ensure that a thorough investigation is undertaken surrounding baby Leago’s death.”